By Brian Gosset
X – @gosset41
KELLER – With only three games left in the regular season, Thursday night’s contest between Eaton and Timber Creek was a big one in the District 4-6A standings.
Both teams came into the week in a four-way tie for third place – along with Byron Nelson and Keller Central – all with 2-2 records.
Eaton shrugged off a slow start and scored 35 straight points to spoil Timber Creek’s homecoming night at Keller ISD Stadium.
Along with Justin Northwest’s 27-14 upset over Keller on Thursday, Eaton moved into a tie for second place in district with Keller at 3-2.
“It’s a huge win and we told the guys that there’s not another game present more important than this one. We haven’t accomplished anything yet,” Eaton coach Ellis Miller said. “Timber Creek came out blazing and physical early and our guys came out and matched their tempo.”
Byron and Central play on Friday against Southlake Carroll and Boswell while Timber Creek (3-5, 2-3) falls to sixth place with a tough slate to finish, going against Carroll in Week 10 and Byron in Week 11.
Eaton (4-4 overall) will face Northwest in Week 10 and play Keller in Week 11.
Keller takes on Central in Week 10.
“Northwest is going to give us their best punch and I think they’re probably the best coached team in the district,” Miller said. “Coach Poe will have those guys ready to go. You can’t count them out.”
Timber Creek’s defense shined on the opening possession – holding Eaton to three-and-out. Then the Falcons drove downfield and got on the board first, thanks to a 28-yard field goal by Owen Johnston with 5:03 left in the first quarter.
The Falcons, who beat the Eagles 13-8 last season, got the ball again and were gifted with a 54-yard touchdown run by running back Carson Molden.
After a successful two-point try, Timber Creek led 11-0 with 2:32 on the clock.
Eaton’s offense finally started to click with 20 points in the second quarter. The Eagles got 32 yards on a run by Elijah Irvin that set up first-and-goal at the 6, and on the first play of the second period, QB Rocky Nisa scored on a TD run.
It was 11-6 after Timber Creek got to Nisa on a sack during the two-point attempt.
Eaton’s defense forced a punt and started at its own 25 when Irvin busted another big run of 58 yards to the Falcons’ 11-yard line. Nisa punched in his second TD run and the Eagles led 13-11 with 7:10 left in the half.
Molden picked up 49 more yards to the Eaton 32 and QB Lane Brinkley found Julian Williams down the sideline to set the Falcons up at the 2. Trey Hopkins scored to push Timber Creek back in front at 17-13 with four minutes to go.
The Eagles led 20-17 at halftime when Nisa hit tight end Jacob McCain for a 13-yard touchdown completion. Timber Creek did get off a big pass play from Brinkley to Ebube Okwelume that would’ve set up the Falcons near the 10 and nine seconds left, but the play came back on a holding penalty.
“This was a big week for us,” Nisa said. “Every week we’re playing like the playoffs are on the line. We just keep grinding, keep working and we’re going to keep coming to practice and be better and better every day.”
Nisa connected with Will Kenda on a 38-yard touchdown pass to extend the Eaton lead to 27-17 with 5:33 left in the third quarter. Christian Rhine then recovered a Timber Creek fumble and the Eagles turned it into points on a TD run from Diyari Daniels that made it 34-17 three minutes later.
“We never give up, we fight,” Nisa said. “We always push each other to do our best and we motivate each other to keep going because we promise you, we’re coming for that playoff spot.”
Eaton added two more touchdowns with its final score coming from a Nisa touchdown pass through the middle of the Timber Creek secondary to Jaeden Villalpando. Timber Creek scored a late touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“It starts up front and the O-line improves everyday,” Miller said. “They’re starting to play at a high level and the run game starts clicking once those guys get going. Elijah Irvin had a big game and our quarterback Rocky is always cool, calm and collective. He had another monster game and he’s a big time player.”
